What are Hyenas?

June 27, 2023

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour (MPI-AB) recently discovered that the method by which hyenas inherit rank from their mothers, known as maternal inheritance, corrodes individuals’ social position.

About Hyenas:

Hyenas are doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa and are noted for their scavenging habits.
Family: Hyaenidae
There are three hyena species — spotted (Crocuta Crocuta), brown (Arahyaena brunnea), and striped (Hyaena hyaena). Spotted hyenas are the largest of the three.
Habitat: Forest edges, grasslands, savannas, sub-deserts, and even mountains at an elevation of about 13,000 feet.
Distribution: These animals live throughout Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
Features:
- They are four-legged animals with scraggly fur and large ears.
- They have long forelegs and a powerful neck and shoulders for dismembering and carrying prey.
- They are tireless trotters with excellent sight, hearing, and smell for locating carrion, and they are proficient hunters as well.
- All hyenas are more or less nocturnal.
- These animals usually live for about 12 years, but they can live up to 25 years. Brown hyenas, however, typically have shorter lives.
Conservation Status: According to IUCN, Spotted Hyena populations are of least concern. However, brown and striped hyenas are classified as near threatened.